Green tech finds: the truth about $50 light bulbs and watering bans

Heard that the light bulb that won $10 million from the government will still cost you $50? Wonder if the UK’s watering ban will really make a difference in terms of water savings? Read on: we’ve got the facts on these questions and more in this week’s green tech finds.

What’s the carbon footprint of that trip? Get driving directions from Google Maps? Now, you can find out the most eco-friendly route, too, with a carbon emissions estimator for the Chrome browser. (via @OiWorld)

Tint your windows with the push of a button: Ever want to adjust the amount of daylight coming in without blocking it out with curtains? SageGlass windows (which seem to be only available for commercial building projects at this point) are electronically tintable. (via Earth Techling)

Engineering greener consumers: This one’s kinda creepy – S. Matthew Liao, a professor of philosophy and bioethics at New York University, argues in a forthcoming paper that we could “bioengineer” human beings to consume less, and thus create smaller greenhouse gas footprints. (via Grist)

Do watering bans work? That’s the questionThe Guardian‘s Leo Hickman threw out to readers and experts in light of upcoming “hosepipe” (lawn and garden watering) bans announced for parts of England. The verdict: not on their own – they’ve got to be accompanied by education on wise water use.

Training veterans to work in clean technology: The SolarTech Workforce Innovations Collaborative (or SWIC, if you prefer) aims to provide the necessary skills for veterans and displaced workers in southern California to find jobs in the solar and other renewable energy industries. (via Cleantechnica)